Former Union Minister Satyanarayana Rao passes away

Rajahmundry, Jan 21 (Agencies): Former Union Minister S Satyanarayana Rao passed away on Friday due to old age related ailments, family sources said. He was 90.

Rao, who was admitted to the Corporate hospital in Hyderabad, breathed his last at 0700 hours, the sources said. His body would be brought to his native village Kapileswarpuram in East Godavari district by evening, they said.

Rao was elected to the 13th Lok Sabha from Rajahmundry parliamentary constituency as a BJP candidate and served as Union Minister of State for Agriculture from 1999-2004.

He was also a two-time MLC having been elected to the Andhra Pradesh House in 1958 and 1980. Rao played a crucial role in setting up of many educational institutions and sugar factories in the state. He was particularly devoted to Vedic studies and promoted many Vedic schools.